The Trump administration is urging lawmakers to fund the Department of Homeland Security after a gunman breached security at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner over the weekend.
President Donald Trump on Monday took to social media to press Republicans to forge ahead with a party-line budget maneuver called reconciliation to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol by June 1 despite Democrats’ objections.
“The Senate passed this Blueprint last week on Thursday morning, and now, House Republicans must UNIFY, and pass the same Blueprint to get the Bill done,” the president said in a post on Truth Social. “I’ve asked for the final Bill on my desk by June 1st, and we can make that deadline if we keep to the plan, FAST and FOCUSED. Let’s take care of our Great Agents of Law Enforcement.”
Once done, Congress is expected to then enact a bill to fund remaining DHS operations and end the record-breaking shutdown as it drags into its third month.
Saturday’s incident has fueled calls from Republicans and Trump administration officials to fund DHS, which houses the Secret Service, one of the law enforcement agencies managing security for the event. Administration officials have pointed to the need to prepare for events that will place additional strain on the agency in the months ahead, including the World Cup, America 250, the 2028 Olympics and the presidential election.
Republican leadership is working to persuade hold-outs to support a Senate budget plan to fund immigration enforcement, in part by promising another package filled with Republican priorities later on. Some House Republicans believe the shooting could push hesitant Republican lawmakers to temporarily abandon their frustrations and support the budget plan, especially amid increasing White House warnings about national security risks inherent in leaving the agency in a funding lurch.
“They’ve got some issues getting the votes in the Senate resolution … since it’s limited to ICE and CBP,” said a person close to the White House, granted anonymity to discuss the dynamic. “The admin is just trying to wrangle some votes.”
The congressional showdown over DHS funding amid resistance from Democrats who want more guardrails placed around immigration enforcement has surpassed 70 days. DHS has been able to paper over some missed paychecks by repurposing some of the massive cash infusion the agency received as part of the GOP megalaw enacted last year, but even that has its limits — DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said this month that his department will run out of money to pay employees’ salaries the first week of May.
The administration has repeatedly blamed Democrats in Congress for holding up DHS funding, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt again leveled that charge during Monday’s press briefing, saying “Democrats need to do what President Trump has been calling on them to do for 73 days in a row, and fund the Department of Homeland Security.” She called the matter a “national emergency.”
“Every member of Congress needs to put their country over party, and get the Department of Homeland Security funded,” she added.
Leavitt also praised federal law enforcement’s response to Trump’s attempted assassination.
Law enforcement quickly took down the suspected shooter before he made it into the ballroom of the Washington Hilton, where Trump, Vice President JD Vance, first lady Melania Trump and other dignitaries including members of the Cabinet were gathered for dinner. And Secret Service officers quickly removed the president and other top administration officials from the event space.
“The Secret Service is a vital component of DHS. It has been directly impacted by this reckless political gamesmanship,” Leavitt said. “Everyone in this room who was there on Saturday night witnessed the heroes of Secret Service and federal law enforcement jump into action in the face of grave danger and uncertainty.”
However, how the gunman was able to charge as far past law enforcement as he did — and his ability to bring weapons to the hotel — remains under scrutiny as federal officials examine security protocols for future events.
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